Automatic weighing-machine.



No. 659,923. Patented on. 16, 1900'. anal-19MB. AUTOMATIC WEIGHlNGMACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Mqdel.)

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No. 659,923. Patented Opt. I6, 1900.

I a HOEPNER AUTOMATIC WEIG HING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 2, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

device.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I-IOEPNER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIONSCALE AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SACRAMENTO,

CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,923, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed October 2, 1899. Serial No. 732,306. (No model.)

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HOEPNER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented an Improvement in Automatic WVeighing-Machines; and Ihereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines of that class which aredesigned to weigh powdered, granular, or similar substances and todeliver such substances in regular quantities into such receptacles asmay be desired.

It consists of a weighing-receptacle, ineans for supplying the materialto be weighed thereto, a fulcrumed scale-beam with adjustable weights,from one end of which the receptacle is suspended, a plurality ofchambers within the receptacle, a tilting partition, and mechanism bywhich this partition is alternately moved from one side to the other, sothat material arriving from the source of supply will first fill thechamber upon one side of the partition until the given weight has beenreached and will then be transferred to the other side, thus alternatingwithout interruption.

It also comprises mechanism by which an even feed is maintained,mechanism by which the parts are actuated and locked intermediate oftheir movements, and details of construction, all of which will be morefully eX-' plained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of the scale, the feeder'and registeringdevice being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the feed Fig. 3is a section through the registering-operator at right angles to Fig. 1.Fig. 4 shows the opposite side of the weighing-receptacle from Fig. I.Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the scale. Fig. 6 is a plan view of amodified form of the weighing-receptacle.

A is a source of supply, which may be a conical hopper, into which anydesired amount of material may be placed, or a chute or other conveyer.From this source of supply material is delivered into theweighing-receptacle B, which is here shown as suspended by suitablehearings in a fork or yoke D, which extends along upon each side of theupper part of the weighing-receptacle and is fulcrumed to a fixedsupport, as shown at C, so that it may tilt about this support and allowthe weighingreceptacle to sink when the amount of material within it issuflicient to overcome the weights, which are carried by the oppositeend of the scale-beam in any usual or suit-able manner.

The weighing-receptacle may be made in one or more sections, or it maybe made as a single structure having a diaphragm or partition Eextending vertically from the bot-tom upward. Upon the upper edge ofthis partition is fulcrumed a gate F, which extends horizontally acrossfrom side to side of the receptacle and which by suitable mechanism iscaused to tilt beneath the source of supply A, so that the materialarriving through said source will be alternately diverted to one side orthe other of the partition E. At the bottom of this partition isfulcrumed the tilting structure, composed of two plates G G, so disposedwith relation to each other that when one of them closes against thebottom of its chamber the other will be opened.

The fulcrum-shaft of the gate F'has across its outer end a yoke H, andthis yoke is connected by rods or links I, with correspondingconnections, to the tilting bottoms G G', so that when the gate F hasbeen tilted to allow the discharge from A to pass upon one side of thepartition E the bottom of that part of the receptacle will be closed,and when the gate F has been tilted to the opposite side to deliver thematerial into the other compartment the bottom upon that side will beclosed and the bottom of the first-named compartment will be opened toallow the material to escape therefrom.

The connecting-rods I and the yokes l-l form a parallel-motionmechanism, which insures the proper movement of these parts.

The locking of the bottoms in their closed 5 top of this arm is formed asegment J, the ends of which are cut down to to r1n shoulders, as shownat K.

L is an arm fulcrumed upon the side of the weighing-receptacle B, andits free end is adapted to engage either one or the other of the notchesK of the segment J, and thus temporarily hold the segment in position towhich it may have been tilted, and when the parts are in this positionthey act as a lock to retain one bottomclosed and the other open.

For convenience and ease of operation I have shown an antifrictionalroller L journaled in this end of the lever-arm L. Fulcrumed to theweighing-receptacle B upon the opposite side of the center from thelever L is another arm 0, the free end of which appreaches the free endof the arm L. This arm L has an arm L projecting from it in such amanner that when the arm 0 is lifted it will engage the arm L and thuslift the arm L and disengage the roller L from the notch K, with whichit may be engaged. An arm 0 extends vertically upward in line with thefulcrum of the arm 0 and carries upon it a weight 0 which is normallyapproximately in line above the fulcrum-point; but when the arm 0 istilted so that its free end contacts with the bent arm L this weight,falling to one side of its vertical line of support, gives a suddenmovement to the lever, which causes it to strike the arm L sharply, andthus insure the disengagement of the latch L.

P P are suspending-rods, the upper ends of which are fixed to apermanent part of the structure, as at Q. The lower end of the rod P hasa pin which enters a slot E, made in the arm 0 between its fulcrum-pointand its movable end. The arm P is correspondingly formed to engage withthe bent arm L of the lever L, it being understood that the rods P and Pare fixed, while the weighing-receptacle is capable of a certain amountof vertical movement, sinking when the weight within it overcomes theweights upon the scale-beam and rising when the receptacle is emptied,when the falling action will take place. When one of the compartmentshas become sufficiently filled to cause the receptacle to sink, and itwill move down a little way, depending upon the size of the slot B, intowhich the pin of the arm P projects, this slot being made purposelydeeper than the diameter of the pin, so that the weighing-receptacle maysink a short distance before it acts. As soon as the upper side of theslot R strikes the pin 19 the latter, being stationary, will lift thelever O, turning it about its fulcrumpoint until its free end strikesthe bent arm L of the lever L, and at approximately the same instant thepin p of the rod P will contact with this bent arm L This action servesto lift the lever L and disengage it from the notch K, thus freeing thearm J, and the weight upon the bottom of the compartment which was beingfilled will then open this bottom andclose the opposite one.

This motion simultaneously tilts the arm I, and the roller L will travelover the segmental arc J until it drops onto the notch K at the oppositeend of the segment, when the position of the bottoms will have beenchanged, the one belonging to the empty compartment being closed and theother being opened to allow of the discharge of the contents of itscompartment. The swinging gate F is also simultaneously changed, so thatthe material will be diverted into the empty compartment, which willthen commence to fall.

Upon the opposite side of the weighingchamber from the mechanism justdescribed is another mechanism, which consists of a rectangular frame S,having its upper angles cut off diagonally, as shown at S. This frame istilted in unison with the movements of the bottoms G G and with themovements of the arm J and the locking-segment J.

T is an arm fnlcrumed to the side of the weighing-receptacle, as shownat T, and its opposite end is pivotally connected with a link or arm 25,adapted to rest upon one or the other of the diagonal surfaces S whenthe frame S has been tilted to bring either of these surfaces beneathit. For convenience and freedom of motion of these parts anantifriction-roller is journaled in the movable end of the arm 2, asshown at T U is a second arm having one end fulcrumed to the side of theweighing-receptacle, as shown at U, and having a weight U adjustablymounted upon its opposite end. This arm U is pivoted to the arm t, asshown. The office of this mechanism is to retard and assist in holdingthe parts heretofore described in position while either of thecompartments of the weighing-receptacle is being filled, and thepressure of the end of the arm 25 upon the diagonal surface or edge 8 ofthe tilting frame S serves this purpose; but as soon as the receptaclehas sunk, by reason of the weight within it overcoming the weight of thescale-beam, the disengagement of the parts upon the opposite side isaccompanied by a similar disengagement of this retarding mechanism byreason of the roller at T moving up the incline until it rests upon thestraight upper edge of the frame S bet ween the two diagonalsurfaces S'.Then the action of these parts will be to facilitate the tilting of thedoors until one has been partially closed and the other partiallyopened, when the roller T will rest upon the opposite incline Sand againperform its service. \Vhen the receptacle again rises by reason of itscontents having escaped and the superior weight on the scale-beam actingupon it, the stationary rods P and P remaining in their position, thelever-arm 0 will be again pushed down by the contact of the pin 1) withthe bottom of the slot R of said arm, and a spring-arm 0 which projectsfrom the arm 0, will contact with the bent arm L of the lever L, thusinsuring a sufficient pressure to cause the roller L to drop promptlyinto the notch or delIS pression K when the latter arrives beneath itand to thus lock the parts in their new position.

In the feeding of certain materials to this apparatus it has been founddifficult to cause the substances to flow freely. Inorder to insure aproper discharge of the material, I have interposed between the supplyand the delivery into the weighing-receptacle a disk V, which isjournaled in a plane considerably inclined to the horizontal. The diskis freely turnable in this diagonal plane upon a shaft V and has uponits surface small raised ribs or pins V which are here shown as curvedfrom the center toward the periphery. One side of this disk lies beneaththe supply-chute A and this chute is provided with an adjustable gate Aby which the flow from the main source through the chute is regulated inthe first instance. The material passing through this chute A falls uponone side of the inclined journal-disk V, and the projections V act as aslight check to the flow of the material, which thus causes the disk torevolve upon its axis, and the material flows down therefrom over thedisk and is delivered into the chute or connection, from which it passesinto the weighing-receptacle. The projections V which are low, serve asagitators for the material passing over them, the rotation of the diskcausing these projections to constantly sweep beneath the material whichis passing out of the chute A and if there is any tendency of thematerial to pack or clog at this point these projections will againstart it and cause it to continue flowing, thus preventing any stoppageat this point.

a is a registering mechanism of any suitable or well-known constructionadapted to indicate and keep a record of the number of loads which mayhave passed through the apparatus.

This device is automatically actuated as follows: Within thedischarge-chute and in the path of the material delivered from theweighing-bucket is an arm b, so formed and positioned that the fallingmaterial will strike and depress it. This arm is fixed at one end to ashaft 0, which is turned a short distance by each depression of the armI). A stop d limits the amount of depression of the arm and serves as asupport for its free end until the material has all passed from theweighingbucket, when it will be allowed to rise and assume its normalposition. From the outer end of the shaft can arm f extends and isconnected by a link g with an arm h, which in turn connects with amovable part of the register, so that each depression of the arm I) by apassing load will advance the register one point and record it. Aspring20 of sufficient strength is connected with some portion of themechanism and returns it to its normal position after each depression ofthe arm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In a weighing-receptacle, thecombination of a compartment weighing-bucket having pivoted bottomscontrolling the discharge of material, an oscillating member at one sideof the receptacle having locking-surfaces, locking means engaging one ofsaid surfaces at the completion of each oscillation of the member, meansdependent upon the sinking of the receptacle for automatically releasingthe locking devices, a second oscillating member on the opposite side ofthe receptacle and connected with the bottoms, and a retarding devicefor this second member released by the member itself as it oscillatesfrom one position to another in unison with the oscillation of thefirst-named member.

2. A weighing-receptacle having compartments and swinging bottomscontrolling the discharge thereof, an oscillating member connected withthe bottoms and having retarding-surfaces, and a weighted device adaptedto rest on one of said surfaces at the completion of each oscillation ofthe member, and to be released from the engaged surface by the movementof the memberitself when the opening of the bottom causes the member tooscillate.

3. The combination of a compartment weighing-receptacle, swingingbottoms controlling the discharge from each compartment, an oscillatingmember connected with said bottoms and having inclined surfaces at itsupper angles, and a weighted lever having a link or arm to engage one ofsaid inclined surfaces at the completion of each os' cillation of themember, whereby when the member oscillates in unison with the opening ofa bottom the engaged inclined surface rides under the link or arm andraises the weighted lever to enable said surface to become disengagedfrom said link or arm, and the oscillating member to be released fromits position.

4. The combination of a weighing-recep tacle having compartments withswingi ng bottoms, an oscillating segment connected with said bottomsand having notches at its upper angles, a lever pivoted at one end andhaving its free end to engage one of said notches at the completion ofeach oscillation of the segment, a second lever fulcrumed between itsends, having one end lying in the path of the free end of thefirst-named lever and having a weight upon its opposite end normallyapproximately in line above the fulcrum of said second lever, and meansconnecting the second lever with a stationary part whereby the sinkingof the receptacle tilts the second lever to enable the weight thereon tothrow the lever into contact with the free end of the first-named leverand thereby release the segment from its locked position.

5. In a weighing apparatus, a weighing-receptacle, a yoke from which itis suspended having a scale-beam projecting from it, a

source of supply, means for delivering the material from the source ofsupply into the weighing receptacle, a tilting diaphragm movable to formreceiving-chambers alternately upon opposite sides, fulcrumed bottomsconnected and movable with the diaphragm,- a notched segment fulcrumedon the axes of the bottoms, a latch adapted to engage the notches in thesegment and thereby hold the latter and the bottoms in either positionto which they are moved, said latch having a bent project-ing arm, alever fulcru med to the weighing-receptacle having its free end adaptedto engage the bent arm and disengage the latch and a fixed suspendingrodby which said lever is actuated when the receptacle sinks.

6. In a weighing apparatus, a weighing-receptacle, a yoke from which itis suspended having a scale-beam projecting from it, a source of supply,means for delivering the material from the source of supply to theweighing receptacle, a tilting diaphragm and fulcrumed bottoms connectedand movable in unison therewith, a notched segment fulcrumed andturnable in unison with the movement of the bottoms, a latch adapted toengage the notches in the segmentand thereby hold the bottoms in eitherposition to which they are moved, a disengaging arm fulcrumed to thereceptacle with its free end adapted to engage and raise the latch, afixed rod having one end adapted to engage the swinging arm when theweighing-receptacle sinks whereby the arm is moved to disengage thelatch and allow the position of the bottoms to reverse and a weightcarried by said arm, and movable to either side of the vertical plane ofits fulcrum-point by the tilting of the arm.

7. In a weighing apparatus, a weighing-receptacle, a yoke andscale-beam, a source of supply, a tilting diaphragm movable to formreceiving-chambers alternately upon opposite sides, and fulcrumedbottoms movable in unison therewith whereby one chamber is closed andthe other is opened, a notched segment fulcrumed and movable in unisonwith the bottoms, and a latch adapted to engage the notches in thesegment and thereby hold the latter and the bottoms in either positionto which they are moved, said latch havinga bent arm projecting from itsmovable end, an arm t'ulcrumed to the receptacle having its free endadapted to engage the bent arm of the latch, and lift the latter whenthe receptacle sinks, fixed rods enga ing the arm and the latch and atilting weignt connected with the arm whereby the sinking of thereceptacle disengages the latch and allows the bottoms to reverse theirpositions, and a spring connecting with the arm contacting with thelatch whereby the rising of the receptacle acts to engage the latch withthe notched segment.

8. In a weighing apparatus, a verticallymovable weighing-bucket withdividing-partition, a suspended yoke from which the receptacle is hunghaving a scale-beam projecting from it, a fulcrumed tilting anddirecting top section, bottoms connected and movable in unison therewithto alternately close and open the chambers, a swinging segment fulcrumedon the axes of the bottoms having its upper surface notched, aretaining-latch adapted to engage said notches to hold the segments andbottoms locked in either position, and a supplemental rectangular framehaving diagonal surfaces at the upper angles movable with the bottoms,and a li'ulcrumed weighted arm having its end adapted to rest upon saidangles when the parts are locked in either position.

9. In a weighing apparatus, a verticallymovable weighing-bucket, a yokefrom which it is suspended with a scale-beam projecting from it, asource of supply and means for delivering the material from the sourceof supply into the weighirig-receptacle, consisting of an inclined diskhaving radial curved projections over which the material passes and bywhich it is prevented from clogging.

10. In a weighing apparatus, the compartment weighing-bucket, tiltingbottoms, and rocking directing-gate whereby the compartments arealternately filled and emptied, mechanism by which the gate and bottomsare automatically changed upon the filling of either compartment, mainand supplemental locking devices one on one side and the other on theopposite side of the weighing-bucket and both acting in unison to retainthe parts in position until either compartment has received its fullweight, one of said devices ineluding a member having locking-surfacesat its upper angles and a weighted arm adapted to engage one of saidsurfaces at the completion of each movement of the member, and mechanismactuated by the sinking of the bucket when the compartment has beenfilled, whereby the locking devices are disengaged.

11. The combination with asuspended-eompartme nt weighing-b uek ethaving altern ately opening and closing bottoms, a tiltingdirecting-gate and connections by which the gate and bottoms are movedin unison, a segment concentric and movable in unison with the bottoms,a lever fulcrumed at one end and having the opposite end to engage thesegment at the completion of each oscillation thereof, and having ahook-shaped member, rods projecting from a stationary part, one of whichrods engages the said hook shaped member, and a weighted lever fulcrumedto the receptacle and connected with the other stationary rod, andhaving an end adapted to strike the hook-shaped member of the otherlever and release said last-named lever from the segment.

12. The combination in a weighing apparatus of a compartmentweighing-bucket, having pivoted bottoms, a tilting diaphragm andmechanism by which it is turned to alternately supply material to beweighed to the compartments, and to open the bottoms after parts arereturned to their normal position 10 the Weight is completed, adischarge-chute after the flow from the bucket has ceased.

common to both compartments, an arm eX- In witness whereof I havehereunto set my tending across the interior of the chute havhand. 5 ingone end fixed to a rocking shaft, a stop to limit the movement of thearm, a registering device carried by the chute, an arm and link\Vitnesses:

connecting the movable partof the register S. H. NOURSE,

with the shaft, and a spring by which the 1 JESSIE O. BRODIE.

GEORGE HOEPNER.

